Mercedes-Benz GLA Class

Overview

UPDATED: Read detailed roadtest of the GLA-Class (click to read)

The Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class is a striking looking vehicle from every angle. Based on the platform of the A-Class and B-Class hatchbacks, there is no getting away from the sleek design nature of the GLA. Mercedes has done a great job of making the GLA-Class suit it’s SUV nature by making it look more butch than it’s hatchback siblings. That bold front grille with the large three pointed star, large central air dam and flared wheel archs.

The side profile has steeply raked A-Pillars and rear flowing design elements that do make it look sleek indeed. The large wheels, high ground clearance and black plastic cladding give it a rugged look.

From the back, the GLA-Class has a squat down stance that makes the vehicle look very sporty indeed, with those dual chrome tipped exhausts and silver air diffuser only adding to the appeal. The large and wide rear bumper and narrow glass house give it an aggressive stance as well.

Inside, the Mercedes GLA-Class does feel special indeed with good quality materials used. Fit and finish and ergonomics of the car are good too. Being a compact SUV, leg room and head room is tight for tall passengers. The GLA has a boot space of 421 litres, but some of it is also accounted for by the space saver spare wheel.

The Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class is powered by a potent range of petrol and diesel engines. The diesel model is tuned more towards efficiency and it shows in it’s commendable ARAI rating of 17.9 km/l. The petrol engine is a responsive unit and has a very sporty sound track too. The engine is mated to a seven-speed automatic gearbox with paddle shifters.

Interior

 The interiors of the GLA-Class are well built with good quality materials and fit and finish is good too. The seats are large and supportive, although the rear seat could have offered more under thigh support. The GLA is a very well equipped vehicle and it's dual sun roof that gives it a very airy feel inside. The vehicle may have a boot space of 421 litres but the space saver spare wheel eats into some space. 

Interiors Details

• Boot Space

  The Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class offers 421 litres of boot space

• Speedometer

  The Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class has a well laid out sporty speedo meter

• Gear Lever

  The Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class has a stalk type gear lever mounted on the steering column

• Cup Holders

  The Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class has front and rear cup holders

• Glovebox

  The Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class has a illuminated glovebox

• Audio System

  The Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class has an infotainment system with a central controller

• Air Conditioner

  The Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class has a climate control air conditioning system

• Arm Rests

  The Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class has front and rear arm rests

• Air Vents

  The Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class has circular air vents finished in chrome

• Seats

  The Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class has large and supportive seats, although the rear seats could have offered more under thigh support

• Leg Room

  The Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class has limited leg room for tall passengers

• Knee Room

  The Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class offer adequate knee room

• Shoulder Space

  The Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class offers good shoulder space

• Head Room

  The Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class offers limited head room for tall passengers

• Steering Wheel

  The Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class has a sporty steering wheel

• Power Windows

  The Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class has power windows all around

• Keyless Entry

  The Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class comes with key less entry

• Driver Information Display

  The Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class has a driver information system

Exterior

 The GLA-Class is a very dynamic looking compact luxury SUV with all the right curves and angles that gives the vehicle a very sporty and contemporary stance. The large grille, swept back head lamps, large central air dam and flared wheel archs give the GLA-Class good road presence. The side profile is sleek but the large wheels and side cladding give it a rugged appearance. The rear profile has a squat down sporty appearance further accentuated by the twin tail pipes.

Exteriors

• Front Design

  The Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class has an imposing front end design

• Rear Design

  The Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class has a sporty rear profile

• Side Profile

  The Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class has a sleek side profile

• Ground Clearance

  The Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class has 183mm of ground clearance

• Bumpers

  The Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class has large bumpers

• Head Lamps

  The Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class' headlamps are swept back side ways and have a DRL element flowing across the top section

• Tail Lamps

  The Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class has sporty rectangular tail lamps

• Fog Lamps

  The Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class has fog lamps

• Tyres

  The Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class comes with 235/50 R18 section tyres

• Alloy Wheels

  The Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class comes fitted with alloy wheels while the space saver spare wheel has a steel rim

• Outside Mirrors

  The Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class has trapezoidal ORVMs with integrated turn indicators

• Colors

  The Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class is offered in a choice of four colours

• Rear Wiper

  The Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class has a rear wiper

• Roof Rails

  The Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class has roof rails

• Sun Roof

  The Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class Sport models come with a sun roof

• Spoiler

  The Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class has a rear spoiler

• Side Steps

  The Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class does not have side steps

• Spare Wheel

  The Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class has a space saver steel rimmed spare wheel

Mileage Running Cost

  The Mercedes-Benz GLA 200 CDI has an ARAI rated fuel efficiency figure of 17.9 km/l. The Mercedes-Benz GLA 200 has an ARAI rated fuel efficiency figure of 13.8 km/l.

Mileage Running Cost

• City Fuel Economy

  The Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class diesel has a urban fuel efficiency of 12 km/l. The Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class petrol has a urban fuel efficiency of 10 km/l

• Highway Fuel Economy

  The Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class has a highway efficiency of 14.5 km/l. The Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class petrol has a highway efficiency of 11 km/l

• Arai Rated Economy

  Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class diesel has an ARAI rated fuel efficiency of 17.9 km/l while the petrol GLA-Class has an ARAI rating of 13.8 km/l

• Tank Range

  The Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class has a 50 litre fuel tank. The petrol model should have a claimed tank range of 690 km while the diesel should have a claimed range of 895 km

Comfort Suspension

 The GLA-Class has a reasonably comfortable ride and never really tosses you about. But more NVH padding would definetly isolate bad roads better.

Comfort and Suspension

• Comfort

  The Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class petrol has a more comfortable ride than the diesel model

• Front Suspension

  The Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class has McPherson Strut suspension

• Rear Suspension

  The Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class has a multi-link suspension

Engine Performance

The GLA-Class diesel is powered by a 2.2 litre common rail turbocharged engine developing 135PS of peak power between 3,600 – 4,400 rpm and 300Nm of max torque between 1,600 – 3000 rpm. The petrol fueled GLA-Class is powered by a 2.0 litre unit developing 183PS of maximum power @ 5,500 rpm and peak torque of 300Nm between 1,200 rpm and 1,400 rpm.

Engine Performance

• Acceleration

  The Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class has linear acceleration. The petrol engine is more responsive

• Top Speed

  The Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class diesel has a top speed of 205 km/h while the petrol has a top speed of 225 km/h

• In Gear Acceleration

  The Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class offers good in-gear acceleration

• Gearbox

  The Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class comes with a seven-speed automatic gearbox

• Power

  The Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class diesel develops 135PS of peak power between 3,600 – 4,400 rpm while the GLA-Class petrol develops 183PS of maximum power @ 5,500 rpm

• Torque

  The Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class diesel develops 300Nm of max torque between 1,600 – 3000 rpm while the GLA-Class petrol develops peak torque of 300Nm between 1,200 rpm and 1,400 rpm

• NVH Levels

  The Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class diesel has higher NVH levels than the petrol model

Braking Safety

 The Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class has very neutral handling traits that make it a very safe car to drive. You can also exploit the true potential of the suspension around tight bends in a very safe manner. The disc brakes all around offer great bite. 

Brakes and Wheels

• Handling

  The Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class has neutral handling traits

• Braking Performance

  The Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class has strong brakes with discs all around

• Safety Features

  The Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class comes loaded with safety features such as airbags, ABS, TCS, ESP and EBD

• Abs

  The Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class comes with ABS as standard

• Traction Control

  The Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class comes with a traction control system as standard